Letter-box



(No Model.)

0. A. CUMMINGS & R. H. CHURCH.

v LETTER Box. No. 394,09. Patented Dec. 4, 1888.

\g /g l y s. I lNvENTu i MM? @m 2 (MW M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. CUMMINGS AND R. HOYARD CHURCH, OF XVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,099, dated December 4, 1888.

Application filed March 24, 1888. Serial No.268,322. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. CUM- MINGS and R. HOWARD CHURCH, of Worcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-l-Eoxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple, convenient, and desirable box for the reception of delivered mail matter, which shall be capable of automatically locking, and from which the mail-matter can be conveniently removed when the box is unlocked.

The invention consists, as a whole, in a mail box or receptacle composed of an outer casing adapted to be attached to awall or other support, and provided with a suitable lock and box or receptacle adapted to slide in the casing, so as to be either wholly contained therein or partly nojecting therefrom, and having a nmil-receiving slot which is exposed at the open end of the casing, a mail-delivering opening which is covered by the casing when the box is retracted or wholly contained in the casing, but is uncovered when the box projected, and a hasp or hook adapted to be engaged by the lock on the casing when the box is retracted, the arrangcimmt being such that mail matter can be dropped into the box when it is retracted, but cannot be removed until the box is disconnected from the lock and partially withdrawn from the casing.

The invention also consists in the combination,with a m ail-receivi ng box, of a newspaperholder composed of a wire attached at its ends to the box and bent to form a spring-clip adapted by its own resilience to hold a folded newspaper or other article of like shape against one side of the box.

The invention also consists in certain details, all of which we will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved lett er-box, the cover of the casing being opened. Fig.

2 represents a similar view showing the sliding box elevated to permit the removal of mail Figs. 3 and i represent matter therefrom.

vertical sections, the former showing the sliding box raised and the latter showing it lowered.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, (t represents the casing, which is preferably made of sheet metal and is open at its upper end and provided with a hinged cover, I), adapted to close over said open end.

c represents the box, which is formed to be entirely contained in the casing u, so that when the cover I) is closed the box will be entirely concealed. The box is provided in its top or upper end with a narrow slot or opening, (I, of sufficient size to admitmail matter, and in its front side with a larger opening, c, through which the mail matter dropped into the box through the slot (I may be removed when the box is raised, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. \Vhen the box c is retracted or depressed, as shown in Figs. l and l, the side opening, c, is covered by the front of the casing, so that the mail matter cannot be removed. The box is locked in the last-named position by a lock, 1, on the casing, said lock being constructed to engage a hook or hasp. q, on the box when the latter dropped to its lowest position. \Ve prefer to employ an automatic lock, or one which engages the hook or hasp g automatically, but do not limit ourselves to any particular style or kind of lock, as there are several well known varieties which will answer the pur pose. \Ve have therefore not deemed it necessary to illustrate or describe any particular form of lock mechanism. The casing of the lock projects into the front opening, (2, of the box and acts as a stop to prevent the box from being entirely withdrawn from the easing. A special stop may be employed for this purpose, if desired; but we prefer to utilize the lock-casing.

It will be seen that mail-matter maybe deposited at any time in the box c, the carrier havin only to lift the cover I) and drop letters into the slot d. hen the mail is to be removed, the box is unlocked and raised to expose the opening e. lVhen the box is again dropped it is automatically locked, so that there is no danger of its being left unlocked by the carelessness of the person removing the mail.

\Ve provide the casing a with a spring-clip composed of a piece of stout wire, the ends of which are rigidly attached to the front of the casing in any suitable way. Said wire is bent to form two loops or springs, 2 2, arms 3, and a connecting-bar, 4, said arms being held by the resilience of the wire in yielding c011- tact with the front of the casing. Folded newspapers and other similarly-shaped articles too bulky to be inserted in the slot (Z of the box may be interposed between the clip and the side of the casing and held by the yielding pressure of the clip.

e prefer to provide the lower portion of the casing and box with coinciding glazed openings to permit inspection of the interior of the box.

The box is adapted for outdoor as well as indoor use, the cover 12 of. the casing protecting the sliding box against rain, snow, and

- dust.

casing cannot be removed without violent The box is provided in its back side 9 with orifices 0, which coincide with the attaching-screws when the box is raised, so that said screws can be inserted and removed by a screwdriver inserted in the front opening, 6, of the box when. the latter is raised, but not when the box is depressed.

Ye claim 1. The combination of the casing, the box adapted to slide in the casing and provided with the receiving-slot (Z and with the side opening, 6, and a stop which limits the outward movement of the box and prevents its removal from the casing, as set forth.

2. The combination of the casing having holes in its back to receive attaching-screws s, and the sliding box in said casing having orifices 0 arranged to coincide with said screwholes only when the box is raised, the back of the box covering said holes and the screws 3 therein when the box is depressed, as set forth.

The combination of the casing, the box adapted to slide in the casing and provided with. the receivingslot and with the side opening, arranged as described relatively to the casing, a lock, g, attached to the casing, and a hasp, g, attached to the box and arranged to co-operate with the lock in securing the box to the casing when the box is retracted, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of March, A. .D. 1888.

CHARLES A. CUHMIN GS. R. lIOlVARD CHURCH. \Vitnesses:

3. M. BENT, FRED. XV. \VHITE. 

